6 Big Myths about Bone Marrow Donation

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What's bone marrow? If you've had high school biology, you probably know it's the stuff inside bones that makes new blood cells. But what's a bone marrow transplant? And what's involved in being a marrow donor?

Many of us are a bit hazy about the answers to those sorts of questions. Here is the truth about six common misconceptions about marrow donation, as explained by the National Marrow Donor Program.

Myth: Bone Marrow Donation Means Surgery

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Three out of four donations are made via a nonsurgical technique doctors call PBSC, for peripheral blood stem cell donation. In this technique, blood-forming cells are removed from the donor's blood via a needle stuck in the arm.

The donor must get injections of a drug called filgrastim in the five days leading up to PBSC. It can cause headaches, joint pain, and fatigue. But that's about it as far as discomfort goes.

Myth: Pieces of Bone Are Removed

Marrow donors only give up liquid marrow, taken from the pelvic bone. No bones or pieces of bone are removed.

Myth: Donating Is Painful

In the roughly 25 percent of cases in which surgery is required, the procedure is done in the hospital under general anesthesia. The patient is unconscious and feels no pain as doctors use a needle to withdraw liquid marrow from the back of the pelvic bone.

Patients generally go home the same day and are back to their usual routines within a week.

Myth: Donation Is Bad for the Donor's Health

Every medical procedure involves some risk, and bone marrow donation is no exception. But no more than five percent of the donor's marrow is harvested - not enough to cause any problems. The cells replace themselves in four to six weeks.

Myth: Donating Is Expensive

Donors don't pay to donate. The National Marrow Donor Program takes care of the donor's travel costs - and reimburses other costs on a case-by-case basis.

Myth: The Need for Donors Is Declining

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Each year, more than 10,000 Americans are diagnosed with life-threatening conditions like leukemia or lymphoma. For many of these patients, the only hope of a cure is a transplant from a donor. The need for donors is increasing - especially those from racially and ethnically diverse communities, according to the National Bone Marrow Donor Program.

Most patients who need a marrow transplant do not have a matching donor in the family. These patients depend on unrelated donors.